Junior guard Bryce Butler delivered the game-winning layup with 0.8 seconds left on Thursday evening as the Malone University men's basketball team earned a narrow 65-63 road win over Alderson Broaddus University at the Rex Pyles Arena in Philippi, West Virginia.
 
Coming against his former team, Butler's game-winning shot helped Malone improve to 13-9 on the season and 8-6 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. The deflated Battlers, meanwhile, dropped to 10-11 on the season and 6-7 in the G-MAC.
 
The buzzer-beating win at Alderson Broaddus was the second such win in as many seasons for the Pioneers, who defeated the Battlers in Philippi last season when Ty Jordan knocked down the game-winning jumper with 2.2 seconds left in an 86-85 double-overtime triumph. Thursday's win was also the second win over AB in as many weeks. The Pioneers defeated the Battlers 84-77 in Canton on January 26th.
 
Recap
Senior guard Nate Sheppard, who entered the game as the G-MAC's leading scorer, tallied eight of Malone's first 13 points as the visitors led 13-8 at 13:41 mark of the first half. The paced slowed from there, however, as Malone went the next five minutes without a basket before Jaret Majestic connected on a three-pointer from the right wing to give the Pioneers a 16-14 advantage.
 
Neither team would lead by more than three points for the remainder of the half as the intensity picked up for both sides. A buzzer-beating layup by junior guard Daylan Haynie gave Malone a slim 32-31 lead going into the break.
 
After being held scoreless for the final 13 minutes of the first half, Nate Sheppard scored the first six points of the second half to give Malone what would be its largest lead of the game. An NBA-range three-pointer followed by three free throws after being fouled on another three-point try increased Malone's lead to 38-31 just 90 seconds into the second stanza.
 
Alderson Broaddus fought back to eventually take the lead five minutes later when guard David Shriver, who came in leading the G-MAC in made threes, canned a triple to put AB in front 44-43. Five minutes later, the Pioneers were back in front by seven, 55-48, after Butler buried a triple and Rholy Mouliom followed with his first three-pointer of the season.
 
With 4:57 remaining, Malone still led by seven, 61-54, after a driving layup by Haynie, but Alderson Broaddus answered with a three-pointer and would eventually trim the deficit to three points at 63-60 on a free throw with 1:05 remaining.
 
On the next possession, Malone was charged with an offensive foul, leaving the Battlers with a chance to tie it. The Pioneers made the mistake of leaving Shriver open again as the marksman splashed down a three-pointer to the delight of the home crowd, tying the game at 63-63 with 26 seconds left.
 
Following a timeout and with the shot clock turned off, Malone took possession of the basketball, playing for the either the game-winning shot or overtime. After dribbling nearly the entire 26 seconds of the clock, Haynie, looking to make a play, was stifled at the top of the key and dished off to Butler in the left corner with just a few ticks remaining.
 
Going left, Butler beat his defender to the baseline and found his way to the basket where he tossed in the game-winner with just 0.8 seconds to go. The Battlers were unable to get a shot off before time expired as Malone came away with a huge road win.
 
Game Highlights
-The two teams were tied a total of eight times and the lead switched sides on 12 separate occasions. Alderson never led by more than three points.
-The two teams were close to even in nearly every statistical category. Malone shot 42.9% (24-of-56) while Alderson Broaddus shot 43.1% (25-of-58) overall.
-The Battlers held a slim edge in rebounds (34-33) and points in the paint (30-28). Both teams committed just eight turnovers
-Malone maintained the advantage in three-point shooting, connecting on 8-of-19 tries (42.1%) compared to the Battlers, who made 5-of-16 (31.3%) from deep.
-The Pioneers have now won three of their last four games and six of their last eight. With the win, Malone grabbed sole possession of the seventh place in the G-MAC standings.
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Sheppard led all scorers with 22 points, including 14 in the second half. The lefty went 4-of-8 from beyond the arc.
-Butler finished with 16 points along with a pair of assists and a steal.
-Playing 39 of a possible 40 minutes, Haynie finished with 10 points, five rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
-Sophomore forward Marcus Ernst had a fantastic game, totaling six points, three assists, a steal, and a career-high 16 rebounds, including six offensive. Ernst tied former teammate Djuro Pantos (16 vs. Findlay in Dec. 2017) and Brian Stone (16 vs. Tiffin in Jan. 2015) for the most rebounds in single game by a Pioneer in the last 11 seasons. Malone Hall of Famer Tyler Renner had 17 rebounds against Geneva in November of 2007.
 
Alderson Broaddus Individual Highlights
-Mike Davis led the Battlers with 17 points.
-Tyler Golphin added 16 points and three assists.
-Malik Bocook contributed nine points, 15 rebounds (five offensive), two blocks, and a steal.
 
Up Next
Malone will look to avenge a home loss to Davis & Elkins this Saturday, February 9th in Elkins, West Virginia. The Pioneers and Senators tipoff at 12:00 pm.